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Updated: Apr 4, 2026

Development and Identification of a Novel Subpopulation of Human Neutrophil-derived Giant Phagocytes In Vitro
Published on: January 25, 2017
A Hitchhiker's Guide to Myeloid Cell Subsets: Practical Implementation of a Novel Mononuclear Phagocyte
Martin Guilliams1, Lianne van de Laar1
1Laboratory of Immunoregulation, VIB Inflammation Research Center, Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium ; Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Ghent , Ghent , Belgium.
Abstract:
The classification of mononuclear phagocytes as either dendritic cells or macrophages has been mainly based on morphology, the expression of surface markers, and assumed functional specialization. We have recently proposed a novel classification system of mononuclear phagocytes based on their ontogeny. Here, we discuss the practical application of such a classification system through a number of prototypical examples we have encountered while hitchhiking from one subset to another, across species and between steady-state and inflammatory settings. Finally, we discuss the advantages and drawbacks of such a classification system and propose a number of improvements to move from theoretical concepts to concrete guidelines.
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